2025 Toyin Falola Prize

The Toyin Falola Prize (TFP) calls for submissions for its 5th edition.

In 1982, the Times Magazine named a personal computer as its “Man of the Year,” and just six years later, in 1988, it named Earth its winner. 

These historical antecedents resonate with the ongoing discourse surrounding humanity’s dynamic relationship with her environment and technology, especially the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.

Hence, as we stand at the crossroads of past, present, and futures, we invite African narratives that delve deep into the intricate intersectionality of Nature, Mother, Life, Earth, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence. We are seeking stories that unravel the complexities of these preoccupations, exploring their symbiotic relationships, their tensions, and their harmonies.

Do you have a narrative that reimagines our connection to the world around us? Or perhaps you’re drawn to narratives that challenge conventional boundaries, question established norms, and invite readers to see the familiar through a new lens? We welcome submissions that dare to deconstruct, complicate, and reimagine the very essence of these categories. Bring us your most thought-provoking, boundary-pushing stories that blur the lines between reality and imagination.

Creative and genre-bending submissions are highly welcomed (including those hard to categorize) except erotica and chic-lit.

Witty language and humour are especially welcomed.

The narratives can be either factual or fiction, or a mixture of both; however, the genre must be clearly indicated by the entrant, which does not in any way influence/constrain the chances of the submission, as originality, creativity, and delivery are principal criteria.

The writer should not be below the age of 15 or above 35 at the time of submission.

There is no limit to the number of words; however, we would prefer submissions within the range of 1,500 – 4,500 words.

We do not accept more than an entry per writer/submission.

All entrants must be African; that is, the writer should either be born in Africa or have either of the two parents as African.

All submissions must be the original work of the entrants, previously unpublished in any form, and not under consideration for publication or a prize somewhere else. That means we do not accept translated works or simultaneous submissions. Note: Published means either online in any form or on any platform.

All submissions should be sent to [email protected] with the subject TOYIN FALOLA PRIZE SUBMISSION.

All submissions should be attached as a doc. file, named as the title of the submission (without the name of the entrant) and formatted in 1.5 line spacing, Book Antiqua theme font with font size 12. Note: Other file formats would not be considered for the prize.

Also, the body of the submission email should not contain the bio of the entrant, just the title of the submission, word count, genre, full name, and contact information. Bios of the entrants would be requested upon selection. The file itself should not indicate the name or any identifying detail of the entrant.

By submitting to the prize, the entrant gives Pan-African University Press the exclusive right (or as determined by PAUP) to edit and publish their works upon selection for the longlist in the ensuing anthology of the prize.

No member or relative of the Lunaris Review Team and Pan-African University Press would be considered for the Prize.